by Alan Jacques
Picture: Keith Wiseman
MORE needs to be done to prevent racial abuse and intimidation rising to even more dangerous levels in Limerick city.
That’s the view of a British woman who has spoken out about her own personal experience of racial abuse since moving to the city six months ago.
Of Bangladeshi descent, the woman, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, said she has suffered racial abuse in the city centre from children as young as nine.
Last week, she was left shaken after being verbally abused and intimidated by a group of young girls wearing school uniforms in Arthur’s Quay shopping centre.
One girl jeered as she walked past: “I hate Pakis. They are so ugly. I wish they would die!”
“I am a Muslim and a British citizen and moved from England to Limerick. I work here and I have to say as peaceful and quiet as it has been and as lovely as the people are in Limerick, I have lately been suffering racial abuse from young children in the city centre,” she told the Limerick Post this week.
“I have had one young child question his father why my skin is a “dirty” colour. His father did not apologise for this remark which completely disgusted me,” she said.
Recently, she says the racial abuse she has suffered in the city has gotten worse.
“When I go into town alone for some shopping, I suffer abuse from young children who are between the ages of 9 and 15. It is absolutely ridiculous that these children’s parents are either not aware what their children are saying or doing to taunt foreign people or their parents have not educated them on culture and religion, or, for goodness sake, just to even respect people who are from all over the world.”
The woman was left very upset after her experience in the city last week.
“A group of children wearing school uniforms were walking past me but at the same time saying, ‘I hate Pakis. They are so ugly. I wish they would die!’ They were laughing and looking at me to clearly try and intimidate me.
“They walked away so quick to not even allow me to have a chance to say anything back. Had I had the chance to say something, I would suggest they educate themselves, that the world is changing and to remember that we are all one. There is no difference between me and them except their lack of knowledge on culture and religion.”
Limerick, she feels, needs to make it clear that these incidents’ of racial abuse and intimidation are not acceptable.
“The Gardaí really need to step up their game to prevent it from happening again and again, to the point people are afraid. People like me don’t come here to cause problems, we also just want to live a normal life”, she said.
A spokeswoman for Limerick-based migrant rights organisation Doras Luimní described these incidents of verbal abuse as “hugely alarming”, particularly given the young age of the perpetrators.
She said there is clearly a need for further education and awareness of issues relating to cultural and religious diversity, as well as increased awareness of reporting mechanisms for racist incidents experienced and witnessed by people in Limerick and nationwide.
“In the past few months, we have witnessed an increase in anti-immigration rhetoric, much of which is targeted at the Muslim community and almost all of which is scaremongering and based on misinformation.
“There is a need to prioritise anti-racism and intercultural education at all levels – in schools, the community and the workplace. Racism not only has huge and long-lasting effects on the victim but also causes significant damage to the wider community,” the Doras Luimní spokeswoman commented.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, An Garda Síochána encouraged members of the public to come forward and report all hate motivated incidents.
“They should report the matter at their local Garda station, to any member of An Garda Síochána, in the same manner as they would any other incident.
“In addition, members of the public affected in this way may request to speak with an Ethnic Liaison Officer (ELO). An ELO/LGBT Liaison Officer is available in every Garda division in the country.”
You can also report racial abuse online at www.ireport.ie.
